Talk:Alexander Morten

Untitled
Don't just ignore all the changes I've made. The only sources for Morten's date of birth etc are modern - and I know for a fact that the compilers of the two websites you mention haven't done the original research necessary: englandfootballonline and englandstats. I know this because I've asked them! Almost nothing is known about the Alec (the sortened version is from a contemporary book) Morten who played for England. Too many people have invented facts about him (his exact date of birth comes from a Dean Hayes book, and a) Dean Hayes is absolutely not an England expert, and b) he's in jail!

Seriously, please stop recycling all this received wisdom about Morten. Unless you have any CONTEMPORARY evidence, that is...

Cris Freddi

Disputed biography
I have posted below the disputed edits made by Cris Freddi:

Date of birth and personal life
It's constantly claimed that Morten was born in Paddington, Middlesex on 15 November 1831, married Flora Hedger (1833-1900) at St Peter's Church, Petersham, on 17 March 1855, that they had six children, although two died in infancy, and that Morten was a stockbroker on the London Stock Exchange. But there's no contemporary evidence whatsoever that this was the same Alexander Morten (there are several in official records) who played football for England. And the exact date of birth quoted so often is not in any Census or Probate records.

England football career
Morten was the first goalkeeper to captain the English international side. It's said that he holds the twin distinctions of having been born at an earlier date than any other international footballer, and of being older than any other England player on his international debut. But there's no evidence for this outside modern books and websites.

Death
An Alexander Morton died at 21 Hogarth Road, Earl's Court, London on 24 February 1900, aged 68, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery - and another one in new York - but there's no evidence that either of these was the England goalkeeper.

--Daemonic Kangaroo (talk) 22:39, 24 February 2011 (UTC)


 * Sources provided:, . No disputes. Corwin of Amber (talk) 05:00, 24 July 2023 (UTC)